Looking to revamp your living room decor in a warm, natural, and inviting way? Consider layering cowhide rugs to create depth, texture, and visual interest. The rich colors and patterns of cowhides can transform any living room from basic to spectacular. From selecting the right size and style cowhide to expertly arranging your rugs, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to spruce up your living space with these stylish layered rugs. Keep reading for tips on choosing cowhides, base rugs, and arranging your layered rug look.
Cowhide rugs add texture and warmth that synthetic or fabric rugs just can’t provide. Made from 100% natural cow leather, these durable rugs are hypoallergenic and perfect for high traffic areas. When paired with a neutral base rug and thoughtfully placed furniture, layered cowhide rugs become the beautiful focal point of your living room.
Choosing the Perfect Cowhide Rug
With cowhide rugs available in a range of sizes, colors, and quality, selecting the right one for your space requires some consideration. Keep these tips in mind when picking out a cowhide rug for layering:
Consider the Size
First, determine what size cowhide best fits your furniture layout. The rug should extend 12-18 inches beyond the front legs of sofas, chairs, ottomans, and other furniture. A rug that’s too small can become a tripping hazard, while an oversized rug hides your beautiful flooring. For average-sized living rooms, cowhide rugs around 5 x 7 feet or 6 x 8 feet provide great coverage without overwhelming the space.
Measure the open floor area you want to cover and add 12-18 inches all around when selecting your rug size. This ensures your furniture can sit on top nicely.
Choose a Complementary Color
Cowhide rugs come in shades of black, brown, beige, cream, grey, and white typically. Choose a cowhide color that complements your existing furniture and decor. Neutral cowhides in lighter shades can brighten up a dark room. Bold black and white cow print makes a dramatic statement. For a pop of color, search for dyed cowhide rugs in vibrant hues like red or blue.
Consider the Pattern
Natural cowhide rugs feature unique markings and patterns due to the natural variations in each cow’s skin. While some hides have minimal patterning, others boast bold splotches, speckles, spots, or stripes that really stand out. Work with the cowhide’s distinctive patterns by selecting a solid colored or subtly patterned base rug in a coordinating neutral tone. This allows the bolder cowhide design to take center stage.
Assess the Quality
Be sure to inspect cowhide rug quality when purchasing. Real cowhide is thick, soft, and supple. Run your hands across the surface to check for a luxurious handfeel and consistent thickness. Lower quality hides may be thin, stiff, or patchy. When possible, purchase from a reputable dealer that ethically sources their cowhides.
Picking the Perfect Base Rug
Layering rugs is all about contrast and interplay between textures, patterns, and colors. Choose a base rug that complements the cowhide while allowing it to stand out and shine. Consider these tips when selecting a base rug for under your cowhide:
Consider the Material
For the base layer, flatweave, low pile, or short shag rugs work best. Materials like wool, cotton, jute, or synthetics like polyester and viscose provide durability without overwhelming the cowhide’s textured appearance. Pick a material and weave that contrasts the ultra-soft cowhide.
Select a Neutral Color
A base rug in a solid neutral color allows the cowhide pattern to take center stage. Beige, taupe, cream, and light grey are popular choices. Make sure the base rug is lighter than the cowhide if using a darker hide.
Look for Subtle Patterns
While the base rug should not compete with the cowhide’s bolder patterns, subtle geometrics or tone-on-tone prints can add depth and interest. A pattern like subtle stripes or a Moroccan trellis motivates the eye to move around the space.
Mind the Size
Choose a base rug approximately the same size as the cowhide top rug, or slightly larger. If much smaller than the cowhide, it tends to get lost. If much larger, it diminishes the cowhide’s impact. Align the edges or slightly offset rug sizes for differently sized rugs.
Arranging Your Layered Cowhide Rugs
When it comes to placing your rugs, don’t be afraid to get creative with the arrangement. Whether you anchor the seating, center it in the room, or get playful with the orientation, cowhide layered rug combinations create endless possibilities. Follow these tips when arranging your rugs:
Anchor Your Seating Area
One of the most popular ways to use a layered cowhide rug is anchoring a living room seating area. Place your larger furniture pieces like a sofa, loveseat or chairs fully on top of the base rug. Then layer the cowhide rug underneath centered in front of the furniture. The cowhide frames the furniture, defining the space.
Make It the Center Point
For a bold look, use the layered cowhide rug as the central focus point in your living room layout. Center it in the middle of the open floor space rather than under furniture. The cowhide becomes art for the floor, drawing eyes across the room.
Get Creative With Angles
Don’t just default to placing rugs parallel to the furniture or in line with the room. Add visual interest by arranging your cowhide at a 45-degree angle or perpendicular to your furniture. Play with different orientations until you find a layout you love.
Overlap Rug Sizes
When layering two differently sized rugs, overlap them slightly instead of aligning the edges. This creates greater depth and dimension. Just be sure the smaller rug extends fully underneath the front legs of furniture to avoid tripping.
Use Furniture to Anchor
While furniture placed on top of the rugs helps anchor them, additional accent furniture can also help hold layered rug positioning in place. Try a large ottoman, coffee table, or plant stand placed with one leg on each rug. This keeps them from shifting.
Designer Tricks for Styling Layered Cowhide Rugs
To take your layered living room look to the next level, incorporate these styling tips from top designers:
Repeat the Cowhide Pattern
Echo the colors and patterns from your cowhide rug elsewhere in the room. For example, select pillows or throws in coordinating earth tones. Or pick artwork featuring spots, stripes, or geometrics matching the hide’s markings. This creates a pulled together look.
Mix Textures
Layer cowhide rugs topped with sheepskin throws and fur pillows to up the cozy factor. Contrasting but coordinating textures add visual interest and depth.
Use Through the Home
Why stop at the living room? Use cowhide rugs layered over jute or sisal runners in hallways or as bedside rugs in the bedroom. Coordinate your cowhides throughout for a chic, curated aesthetic.
Incorporate Natural Elements
Accentuate the natural warmth of cowhide rugs with other organic elements. Think woven baskets, wooden furniture, potted plants, and stone accents that complement the rugged yet refined rugs.
Define Zones
Use layered cowhide rugs to differentiate functional spaces within a large open concept living room. Define a reading nook, home office area, or dining space with strategic rug placement.
Caring for Your Investment
With some basic care and maintenance, cowhide rugs can last for years, developing character over time. Here’s how to keep them looking beautiful:
Vacuum Regularly
Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment once a week to remove dust and surface dirt from cowhide rugs. Adjust to a lower setting to avoid damaging the hide’s fibers.
Beat Outdoors Periodically
Every few months, take your cowhide rug outside and gently beat it over a railing or clothesline to remove deeply embedded dirt and revitalize the fibers. Avoid excessive moisture.
Spot Clean Immediately
Blot any spills or stains on your cowhide rug as soon as they occur using a clean cloth and a small amount of mild detergent. Avoid excessive rubbing or scrubbing.
Professionally Clean as Needed
Periodically have your cowhide rug professionally steam cleaned to give it a deeper refresh. Follow the manufacturer’s care recommendations for frequency. Let it fully dry before placing back in the home.
Store Properly
When not in use, store cowhide rugs flat or gently rolled, never folded. Keep in a climate controlled area away from direct sunlight to avoid drying out. Improper storage can lead to cracking over time.
Full of texture, warmth, and natural pattern, it’s easy to see why designers and homeowners alike are embracing the layered cowhide rug look. When thoughtfully chosen and artfully arranged, these rugs can transform your living space from expected to extraordinary. Ready to elevate your home? It’s time to spruce things up with cowhide!
With an eco-friendly material, captivating palette, and inviting texture, layered cowhide rugs create a comfortable yet visually alluring spot for relaxing. Their rugged durability also means they stand up well to the heavy foot traffic common in high-use living rooms.
Next time you are looking to revitalize a tired living space, don’t just rearrange the furniture. Layer in some beautiful cowhide rugs to instantly create an inviting oasis in your home. With the right cowhide, base rug, and strategic arrangement, your living room decor will feel fresh, current, and uniquely you!
